Abstract

Droplet Microfluidics for Drug Delivery – Using Light and Magnetism

Nicole Pamme, Professor in Analytical Chemistry, Stockholm University

Two applications of droplet microfluidics in the context of drug delivery will be presented. (1) We present the generation of amphiphilic microgels by photopolymerisation of droplets on-chip which are capable of delivering both hydrophilic and hydrophobic drugs. A range of polymeric materials were generated, their swelling as a function of pH analysed and their ability to release hydrophilic as well as hydrophobic model drugs measured. (2) We investigate the magnetic manoeuvring of ferrofluid droplets through reagent streams to enable the layer-by-layer deposition of chemicals such as polyelectrolytes in order to assembly drug delivery capsules. Droplet size and manoeuvrability was optimised to enable movement through a range of laminar flow streams with washing solutions and reagents.